In Celtic Darkness, author Eoghain Hamilton explores the supernatural folklore of Ireland blending the modern world with the ancient world of ghosts and sidhe. In nine short stories, people meet the otherworldly creatures of myth-- banshees warning of deaths to come and ancient evils lurking in long abandoned tunnels, old ghosts waiting in a man's childhood home and terrifying spirits surrounding an off season summer home.

While Celtic Darkness is probably better described as a horror book, there is more than enough supernatural content to consider it also dark fantasy. The scare the stories give relies solely on the supernatural creatures of Ireland's past and the modern people who believe such things to be tales to scare children. Hamilton does a great job of creating a chilling air to his tales that surrounds the unsuspecting characters of his stories, pulling them into a Gothic tale from the past. If I had any disappointment it was that the myths behind the apparitions and creature were not a more integral part of the stories.

My RecommendationCeltic Darkness by Eoghain Hamilton is a collection of supernatural tales that reminds me of the simple ghost stories that stay with you years after you hear them. The blending of Celtic folklore and modern characters is the perfect way to bring these ancient creatures to future generations. If you like dark fantasy, Celtic Darkness is a great read.